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[bikerdude999]

A couple of months ago I decided I'd build a boat, using my 3D printer for as much of it as possible. I found a designer online with a few models I was interested in, and decided to go for the Fletcher class. The cost of the files at the time was $42 which I think worked out around £31, and includes designs for every part needed except the prop shafts and rudder post.


It took me just over a week to print each section for the hull, 11 separate pieces in total, and then I printed all the superstructure and guns. The hull was glued together, and the superstructure was loosely fixed together so I could see how it would look when finished. I'll attach some photos below of the various stages, I always mean to take more photos but end up cracking on with building and forgetting photos.


I've not got any photos of the individual parts, but you can see the lines in the hull here where each join is, superstructure and guns are loosely placed on:











I wasn't happy with the gun turrets done on the FDM printer, too many layer lines, so I reprinted them on the SLA printer and they came out much better:





I've now spent a few days filling and sanding the joins, and spraying with filler primer to get it as smooth as I can, still needs a little work, but it's getting there:














I got the props and shafts from prop-shop as well as some bushes to put in the A-frames/shafts supports, with the supports themselves being printed. The bushes were easy to fit, being slightly over-sized for the holes in the supports, I placed them on, and used a soldering iron to heat them melting the support around them and now they've cooled the bushes are held firmly in place. Supports are now being glued in place and will be set by tomorrow, then time to fill around them and sand smooth.







And then just a few photos of some of the smallest parts I've printed, there are some mushroom vents, the side for some cable reels, and the last photo is a searchlight, very hard to take a photo as they are so small, can't get the camera to focus on the part properly:











Overnight the shafts, supports and rudder post will fully set, meaning tomorrows job is to fill in around the shafts to make it smooth, and seal the inside with epoxy resin, hopefully meaning I can check it in a paddling pool sometime this week to check for any leaks. I think most of the big parts are now printed and just waiting to be assembled and with a little luck I hope to have it built to the point I can test it at the lake in a month or two. The hardest part now is access is very tight to fit out the inside.

[Akira]

Very nicely done!Having built two 1/48th Fletchers, I can attest to the difficulties of installing and accessing the internal components. My advise, for what it is worth, is to spend some time designing your internals so that they can be accessed, even with difficulty, in the event of needed repairs, which will eventually be needed.DD's were referred to as the race horses of the seas, with good reason. But, they were tight!